Surety
Surety Bonds Direct
Surety Bonds Direct sells surety bonds and nothing else. It is a national, surety-only managing general agent: a buyer searches by bond type or by state, answers a short set of questions and gets a quote, often instantly, rather than working through a generalist insurance agent.
The bonds span licence and permit requirements, construction bid, performance and payment bonds, vehicle and trailer dealer bonds, retail bonds for tobacco, alcohol and lottery sales, janitorial and in-home service bonds, probate and court bonds, fidelity bonds and one-off needs such as a bonded vehicle title or a small municipal permit. Quotes are free and can be declined; most bonds arrive the same or next day by email or e-file, with the rest sent overnight, and the agency supplies completed bond forms for the principal to sign. If the entity requiring the bond will not accept those forms, the site promises a full refund. Existing bonds are amended with a change rider requested online. A separate programme lets licensed insurance agents place their clients' bonds through the agency, with commissions on new bonds and renewals and premium financing for qualified customers.
The agency says it is licensed in all 50 states, that more than 100,000 customers nationwide rely on its bonds, and that it has built relationships with A-rated surety markets over the last 12 years. It reports a 99% approval rate including applicants with poor credit, an Investopedia ranking as best overall surety company four years running, Inc. 5000 recognition three years running, and BBB A+ accreditation for over 10 years. The office is at 4900 O'Hear Ave, North Charleston, South Carolina, with bond specialists reachable Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM EDT and quotes accepted around the clock.
Premium is not published, because it varies with bond type, bond amount and credit. Buyers in two states should also note the trading names: the agency does business as SB1 Direct Insurance Services, LLC in California and SB Direct Agency, LLC in New York.
Best for
Contractors, dealers, licensees and executors who know which bond form they must file and want it quoted and issued online; not an outlet for broader commercial insurance, which the agency does not write.
What they do
- Licence and permit bonds
- Contractor bid, performance and payment bonds
- Vehicle and trailer dealer bonds
- Court and probate bonds
- Fidelity bonds
- Bonded vehicle titles
- Bond change riders
- Agent and volume account programmes
- Premium financing for qualified customers
Details
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Licenses | Licensed in all 50 states, Doing business as SB1 Direct Insurance Services, LLC in California, Doing business as SB Direct Agency, LLC in New York |
| Memberships | BBB A+ accredited for over 10 years |
What stands out
- Says it is licensed in all 50 states and that more than 100,000 customers nationwide carry its bonds
- Reports a 99% approval rate, including applicants with poor credit
- Ranked best overall surety company by Investopedia four years running and listed on the Inc. 5000 three years running
- BBB A+ accredited for over 10 years
- Offers a full refund if the entity requiring the bond will not accept the agency's forms
Common questions
- What is a surety bond?
- A surety bond is a written agreement guaranteeing compliance, payment or the performance of an act. Unlike most insurance it is a three-party agreement: the principal, who buys the bond and takes on the obligation, the surety that backs it, and the party requiring the bond.
- How quickly can a bond be issued?
- Quotes come back instantly in many cases, and most bonds are delivered the same or next day by email or e-file, with others sent by overnight delivery. The agency supplies completed bond forms, so in most cases the principal only needs to sign.